SINN Féin Councillor Aileen Mellon has said the announcement from the Irish government that it will continue support for Irish students to study in the north and Britain, and vice versa until 2019 is reassuring but added that further clarity is needed.
The party’s local education spokesperson said:
“The news of continued support in terms of tuition fees and student grants for students beginning their studies in the 2019/20 academic year for the duration of their course will provide some reassurance to students north and south currently making their CAO and UCAS choices.
“However, this once again highlights the utter absurdity of Brexit as a concept and the entirely negative impact it will have.
“Brexit limits opportunities for young people and puts up barriers where currently there are none in terms of the ability for young people north and south to study, work and gain experience in other EU states.
“While this clarity is welcome, it is of course only for the forthcoming academic year and the future of fees and supports for students north and south remains unknown.
“Students currently making important decisions on their future need certainty and should not be punished by Tory Brexiteers and their DUP allies.”
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